Calls to remove car parking on Le Mans Crescent to create public open space
The crescent’s stunning architecture was described at a recent full council meeting as the “most spectacular part of the town centre” with the opposition leader Martyn Cox saying it was “not best served using it as just a car park”.
Le Mans Crescent, immediately to the south of the town hall, was built during the late 1930s.
It houses the borough’s central library, museum and aquarium and part of it previously operated as a magistrates’ court and police station with numerous detention cells still inside the building.
In recent years it has provided an atmospheric backdrop for several television dramas and films including Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley and The Reckoning and has been instrumental in building Bolton’s reputation as the “Hollywood of the north”.
Both sides of the crescent are currently used for kerbside short-stay car parking.
Conservative leader Martyn Cox told councillors that more should be made of the buildings and the adjoining curved, cobbled roads.
He said: “For the first time I feel we’re getting a feel for what town centre regeneration can look like.
“People are beginning to see a transformed Bolton town centre.
“I always feel there’s a piece of the jigsaw that we haven’t got done.
“I think Le Mans Crescent is the jewel in our crown.
“It’s the most spectacular part of the town centre and probably the most attractive architectural space in the north west.
“I believe that using this space as a car park is a missed opportunity.
“It would be great as open public space to do a variety of things in.
“I feel it would complete this part of the town centre.
“It’s a perfect backdrop and recently there’s been more filming going on there than in Hollywood.”
Cabinet member Akhtar Zaman said “these are good ideas, we will explore them”.
He added: “These are buildings we definitely want to celebrate.
“I have asked the officer team to produce a report to consider how best to activate key spaces in the town centre.
“We will explore new ways to use Le Mans Crescent.”
Cllr Zaman added that work on lighting improvements on Le Mans Crescent will start early next year.
He said: “The work will bring to life its architecture and grandeur and better illuminate this stunning asset.”
In, 2019, Bolton was successfully offered up to £22.9m of funding from the central government’s Towns Fund to help regenerate nearby Cheadle Square.
Projects completed include the redevelopment of Wellspring into a business hub, the refurbishment of Bolton Market, improvements to the library and museum and a substantial investment to public realm in Cheadle Square and Ashburner Street.
The area behind Le Mans Crescent, the former bus station site on Moor Lane, is currently being developed into a town centre community with four apartment blocks and rows of three-storey town houses being built.
The development will also establish a clear pedestrian link between the town hall, Le Mans Crescent and Queens Park.
Source – INDIA TV
